Palm Beach, Fla. (AP) — Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have both agreed to a Sept. 10 presidential debate, setting up a showdown between the Republican and Democratic candidates, ABC says.
The announcement came Thursday shortly after Trump said at a news conference that he had proposed three presidential debates with three television networks, which he said he had agreed to on specific dates in September.
Trump rejoins the ABC debate days after posting on his social media network that he will not appear on the network, citing the lawsuit he filed. Her decision sets up a much-anticipated moment in the election, where the first debate led to a massive shift in the race — with Democratic President Joe Biden ending his re-election bid and endorsing Harris.
“I think it’s very important to have discussions,” Trump said Thursday. “I look forward to the discussions because I think we need to set the record straight.”
The Harris campaign had no immediate comment.
Trump teased the announcement of a presidential debate earlier this week from an ABC News debate scheduled for September 10 after President Joe Biden wrapped up his re-election campaign. Trump had said he wanted Fox News to sponsor the debate, but on Wednesday signaled a preference for ABC to reconsider.
Harris hasn’t held a news conference or sat down for an interview since Biden dropped out last month, when his running mate, Ohio Sen. Trump echoed JT Vance’s criticism.
Harris has a traveling press pool with him on Air Force Two for all trips. When Trump goes out on the campaign trail, he doesn’t have a regular press pool that travels with him on his plane.
Vance has flown reporters with him, and he’s been campaigning this week in states where Harris and Walls have their own events planned. On Wednesday, both Vance’s plane and the Air Force One ended up on the same tarmac in Wisconsin. Vance began walking toward the Democratic plane But the motorcade carrying Harris, Walls and the traveling press never made it. ___
Associated Press writer Will Weissert in Washington contributed to this report.
